Wrestling Federation of India

• 11 Mar 2025

On 10th March 2025, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), reinstating its status as a National Sports Federation (NSF) after months of uncertainty and protests.

• The WFI was suspended in December 2023 after newly elected president Sanjay Singh announced national championships in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, amid ongoing protests by top wrestlers.
• United World Wrestling (UWW) banned WFI in August 2023 for failing to conduct elections within the mandated timeframe, impacting India’s participation in international events.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed an ad-hoc committee to oversee WFI’s operations while elections remained delayed due to protests and legal challenges.
• Elections were finally held in December 2023, leading to the appointment of Sanjay Singh as president, but his election sparked fresh protests due to his perceived association with Brij Bhushan Singh.
• The Sports Ministry suspended WFI again in early 2024 after concerns over the new leadership’s actions, prompting UWW to lift its ban after the federation held selection trials for upcoming competitions.